Villa Rossi, better known as Villa Murat, is located in the ancient village of Annunziata, above Massa Lubrense. Mediterranean lanes and small houses with typical vaulted ceilings surround it. Built-in the seventeenth century, Villa Murat, originally belonged to a landowners family but it was sold to an Amalfi family at the end of the eighteenth century, hence the name of Villa Rossi.

Recently renovated, the place still preserves several nineteenth-century pieces, frescoed ceilings and some interesting memorabilia, such as a white weapon found intact and ascribed to Murat. A beautiful garden surrounds the house. In the summer, concerts and art exhibitions are held here, among holm oaks, strawberry trees and essences.

Villa Murat is a place suspended between the poetry of the enchanting seascape and the echoes of nineteenth-century history.

History tips

During the Neapolitan Republic, on October 1808, Gioacchino Murat, king of Naples, chose this house as a headquarters to control the siege to reconquer Capri. The island was, in fact, occupied by the British, allies of the Bourbons at the time. As he told his generals, he chose this place due to the strategic view over the sea all around the island. The king wanted to follow properly the battle.

It was in a room of this house that they signed the surrender on October 14. Rumours say there was an ink-stained table in the house because Murat spilt an inkwell while signing the British surrender.

The historical reconquest of Capri is among the most important Napoleonic actions and it was carried out with considerable and innovative war operations. A famous painting by Odoardo Fischetti (now preserved in the Museum of San Martino), as well as a part of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, immortalize it. Murat himself required a special coin to remember it.

After these events, the house was renamed Villa Murat, becoming a source of pride for the locals.

SOURCE: TI RACCONTO SORRENTO of PEPPE MARESCA

Villa Murat - Massa Lubrense

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